Peace One Day - and a freebie!

On September 21st, people from all over the globe, people of all ages, races, sexes and faiths, commemorate Peace Day in many ways. What are you doing today?

Be a part of the peace process. Follow these three steps:

1. Decide what you will do to make peace on 21 September, at school, at home, or in your local community
2. Log your Peace Day commitment at www.peaceoneday.org
3. Tell others around the world and ask them what they're doing on Peace One Day

Here's a teeny, tiny, peaceful freebie for you. Please send all your friends here to get their own peace rock, too.

Namaste

Good Karma Friday: Fisher Houses

The US Army has a program similar to Ronald McDonald House called Fisher House. They are comfortable, temporary homes filled with warm, caring people who help families endure the stresses associated with a loved one's serious medical condition. Family members of an active duty or retired service member who is being treated at the nearby military hospital pay only $10.00* per night to stay in a Fisher House. In some locations, outpatients may also stay in the house. The typical stay is about 10 days but guest can stay as long as necessary...even up to a year if their military loved one needs extensive treatment.

Fisher House™ Foundation and the Fisher House™ program depends on public donations to continue its important work; the Army provides no financial support. The funding for the operations and maintenance of Army Fisher Houses comes primarily from two sources: the small service charge ($10 per family-night) and your charitable contributions.

Here's your Good Karma Friday opportunities...

Donate Money!

Donated money is used to improve facilities, provide amenities for the guests, celebrate holidays, and enhance the range of services provided.

• You can make a donation to benefit all the Army Fisher Houses by sending a check to the program's main office. Click here for the address.

• You can make a donation to a specific house through the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC).

• You can send a check directly to a specific Fisher House.
  Note: Donations made to a specific Army Fisher House are spent on that house.
  

Donate Frequent Flier Miles!

The nonprofit Fisher House Foundation administers the "Hero Miles" program for the Department of Defense. Through this program, frequent flyer members of designated airlines can donate their miles to the Fisher House Foundation who provides free airline tickets to military men and women and their families who are undergoing treatment at a military or VA medical center as a result of their service in Iraq or Afghanistan.

Donate Time!

Fisher Houses depend on volunteers like you! All volunteering is done at the local level, and not through the Fisher House Foundation in Rockville, MD. Contact the manager of a Fisher House near you either by telephone or e-mail. The manager will let you know what they need help with.

Good Karma Friday: The Road Home Charity CD

I am a big fan of the Scottish band Runrig. If you haven't heard their rendition of Loch Lomond...OMG! Click on the video below from their concert at Loch Lomond in 1991. You won't be disappointed! While cruising their web site the other day I came across a note about a charity CD that they and other Scottish musicians (mostly based in Skye) put together to benefit the Highland Hospice in Inverness. Artists include: Peatbog Faeries, Donnie (Munro), Blair Douglas, Arthur Cormack, and Dochas. Runrig close the album with "And the Accordions Played." Read the article here: http://www.runrig.co.uk/news.html#Roadhome

Why not support a great service and enjoy some unique Scottish music - order yours today. I did!

Good Karma Friday: Victorian (Australia) Bushfire Appeal

The 2009 Victorian Bushfire Fund was launched by Australian Premier John Brumby in partnership with the Red Cross and the Australian government. It will assist individuals and communities affected by the recent, and still continuing, devastating bushfires in Victoria, Australia.

Over 30 Australian and international digi designers have come together to create a charity kit called "Spirit of Summer" with 100% of the proceeds going directly to either the Australian Red Cross or the Salvation Army. You donate to one or both of them, send a copy of your receipt to Carolyn at Scrap-n-Tag, and she will send you a coupon code to download the mega kit. If you donate $10 or more you also get a matching quickpage album. Of course I wanted it all, so I donated over $10! ;-) You should, too!

Click the image below to go to the Scrap-n-Tag store and read more about it.



But wait! There's more!
If you also send me a copy of your donation I will send you a coupon to download my mini kit "Firestorm" created during the devastating fires that roared through San Diego in October 2007. This mini kit isn't just for those who have experienced a house fire or forest fire, it's also for layouts of a "Fire Sale," or someone you think is "Hot Stuff," a "Five Alarm Chili" meal, or even a "Firefighter" in your family! Hey ladies, how about those crazy "hot flashes?" LOL! The kit includes: 4 hot papers, 1 flaming overlay, 1 burning mat, 5 word art titles, 10 numbers, and 1 rogue flame.

Good Karma Friday: Donate 44 cans or $44 to a food bank near you

In honor of the inauguration of the 44th president of the US this next Tuesday, the Family Works Food Bank in Seattle has started a special food drive. They are asking you to collect $44 or 44 cans of food to donate between now and the inauguration. If you are not in the area and would like to donate cash, they have a link on their web site. If you have local food bank, donate to them instead.

Like many other food banks, Family Works Food Bank has seen a dramatic increase in need in recent months. With so many more people in need, they also needed more donors. That's when a bolt of inspiration came from President-elect Barack Obama. Mr. Obama is calling for more community service along with his motto, "Yes we can." That's the motto of Family Work's inauguration food drive.

YES we can pull together,

YES we can work together,

YES we can build a strong community together.

Remember - donate to your local food bank often. There are people in need all year long, not just at the holidays.

Those were the days my friends...we thought they'd never end...

This weekend we had to say goodbye to two dear friends....both to different forms of cancer. Both of the memorial layouts below were done with the "Hope" charity kit. You can get this great collaboration kit for FREE! just by donating to a cancer charity of your choice! Please click here for the complete details.

It's Good Karma Friday - Introducing HOPE

25 awesome designers have worked very hard to put this great kit together for a great cause - Cancer Awareness. Almost each and every one of us have had someone close to us suffer with cancer - now it's time to do our bit. For a minimum donation of $10 to a cancer charity of YOUR choice you can get this huge kit for FREE! You can see more details of this awesome kit at Designs by Sassy, the hosting digiscrap shop.

Contents
1 Alpha - 140 Papers - 333 Elements - 16 Quick Pages!



Here are a few sites who allow online donations, but feel free to donate to your own favorite.

Cancer Research UK
Breast Cancer Care
Macmillan Cancer Support
American Cancer Society
Canadian Cancer Society
Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation
Susan G Komen Foundation
Prostate Cancer Charity UK
Prostate Cancer Foundation

When you have completed your donation, e-mail your donation receipt to the hosting store owner, Sassy, and you will be sent a coupon to pick up this fabulous kit for FREE!

Not only do you get the great kit, but you'll also have a great feeling that you're doing your bit to help find a cure. You will also have peace of mind that your money is going directly to the charity and the hosting store receives no financial gain.

A BIG thank you to all the designers who participated!
Sassy, Scrap N Tag, qtJessie, *Amanda*, The Digi Twins, Jill D Zines, Nikki Painter, Rachel Young, Brandi White, Kari Hentzelt, Catriona MacGregor, Jennilyn , Dragonslairdigi, Crafty Bloss (christineM), Danielle Corbitt, Scrapdragon, Heavenly, creativechaos, BooBoo, ScrappinMamaof5 (Becky), Red Leaf DigiScrapping, Phoenix, JeanetteBollingerDesigns, Paperboutique, Green Elephant Designs, and Sine.

But wait! There's more!
Send me a copy of your receipt and I will send you a surprise bonus gift - a special 6 page bracket book designed by me using the kit items! I'll post a preview later on.

:> namaste